Animal Care Assistant in Cambridge

• Job Information
• RSPCA South Cotswold & Gloucester District Branch (CIO)

Location

Cambridge

Salary

£26,228

Hours

37.5

Contract Type

Permanent

Closing Date

Introduction

The Cotswolds Dogs & Cats Home opened in September 2016 and since then, we have supported more than 6000 animals through our Rehoming and Welfare Services.

As a leading animal rescue charity in Gloucestershire, we care for hundreds of abandoned, abused and neglected animals each year and find them loving and safe new families.

We also provide low cost veterinary schemes to families and their pets to ensure that no animal goes without veterinary treatment due to financial restrictions.

We are a small and friendly team who thrive on a passion for Animal Welfare and exceptional customer service.

We know that our charity is defined by our people and are dedicated to investing in our employee’s long‑term career development and success, equipping our team with all the tools to develop professionally.

Key Objectives & Responsibilities

The role will be responsible for the day‑to‑day care and welfare of our animals.

• The Animal Care Assistant will deliver the highest possible standards of animal welfare and care for every animal from arrival to assessment.
• Ensure every animal experiences optimum care during its time with CDCH.
• Provide outstanding service to animals, adopters and visitors.
• Maintain the daily functioning of the kennels, cattery and small‑animal sections with exemplary welfare standards.
• Ensure compliance with licensing conditions and all legal and health and safety regulations.
• Ensure exemplary standards of welfare during handling and transportation.
• Contribute to regular team discussions of animal cases regarding their health, welfare, emotional and physical well‑being.
• Contribute to pragmatic decision‑making around animal welfare.
• Maintain the highest standards of hygiene and cleaning in animal sections and contribute to general upkeep of the centre environment.
• Keep accurate, detailed records for each animal’s overall care, including health checks, feeding, temperature, medication, handling, intake and adoption.
• Maximum rehoming by positively promoting the animals and CDCH.
• Assist the rehoming team to match animals with potential adopters by providing accurate information and advice.
• Ensure animals are prepared for adoption in accordance with centre procedures, including health checks, vaccination, neutering, micro‑chipping and other treatments.
• Provide hands‑on front‑line care for the animals and excellent customer relations.
• Support supervisors and the Veterinary Surgeon in checking health and administering medication to animals in the centre.
• Carry out timely cleaning, feeding, watering, exercise and contact with the animals.
• Attend regular team meetings to maintain effective communication and awareness of progress and developments.
• Provide meal break, holiday and sickness cover for colleagues as required.
• Undertake other tasks as directed by the line manager.
• Person Specification – Qualifications, Skills, Experience And Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to work weekends, evenings and generally unsociable hours.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working in an animal welfare setting or equivalent relevant experience.
• Self‑motivated with huge amounts of energy, dedication, commitment and enthusiasm.
• Experience delivering high standards of animal care.
• Experience being a member of a high‑performing team.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with colleagues.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to support collaboration and efficient functioning of the team and the service.
• Proven experience of working constructively and collaboratively with colleagues across multiple teams.
• A flexible approach to managing and prioritising a varied workload and multiple tasks.
• Experience working alongside and supporting volunteers in operational frontline teams.
• Experience implementing operational processes against agreed standards.
• Ability and motivation to deliver high‑quality work with minimum supervision.
• A commitment to delivering the highest standards of customer service and experience of dealing with customers and members of the public.
• Experience keeping up to date with and applying good practice in your role and encouraging those you manage to do the same.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Excellent working knowledge of Health & Safety in the workplace.
• IT literate with good experience of MS Office and other relevant IT systems as appropriate for the role.
• Ability to work evenings, nights, weekends and Bank Holidays on a rota and as required by the role.
• Able to promote an understanding of, and a commitment to, the vision, mission and values of CDCH.

Desirable

• Experience working within an animal welfare, rescue and rehoming setting.
• A qualification related to animal care or behaviour.
• Experience of animal husbandry and care and the implementation of welfare principles and related operational disciplines.
• Experience delivering animal care programmes.
• Your Commitment to CDCH
• Observe professional integrity in relationships with staff, clients and other partner agencies.
• Be responsible for your health and safety and that of colleagues.
• Be committed to helping to build an organisation that respects and values the diversity of all.
• Treat all information acquired through the course of your employment as confidential and comply with all the appropriate policies, systems and procedures.

Benefits

• Contributory pension
• 28 days annual leave including bank holidays
• Pet Plan insurance discount
• Discount in CDCH charity shops
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